JP2006525085A - Bending support - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an instrument for supporting a person's spine while the person is bent forward, that is, leaning forward.
The support of the present invention adjusts the rest, the angle, the height and / or the lateral position of the rest that can support the user's body in the leaning posture while the user works in the leaning posture. And a support structure that can be made. The support has a support structure and a rest supported from the base by the support structure. The rest can support the user's torso from the base when the user leans the torso against the rest. A moving structure can be used to move the support structure back and forth along the base. One or more pivot points can be used from the base to the rest. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is effective for a user who leans forward for a long time such as a dentist, a person working on a desk, a drawing table, or a production line.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to a support, and more particularly to a forward bending support for use in the healthcare industry and in an environment where people bend forward, repeatedly forward and / or bend forward for extended periods of time. (Anterior support device).

  Many people suffer from lower back pain and dysfunction caused by their work environment or other daily activities. The main cause of this back pain and dysfunction is repetitive or prolonged activity. In order to continue their work, those who suffer from back pain must change their work area significantly. In many cases, people must choose other work areas.

  One such example is a dentist. The dentist spends a considerable amount of time on his working day, with his posture leaning over the patient. This posture causes posterior disc damage and / or other causes of back pain and damage. For dentists, back pain is one of the leading causes of early retirement.

  Some people try physical therapy to relieve this back pain. Others have attempted to support the back at work with braces and cushions to support the spine in a normal anatomical upright position. However, these supports are designed to support a person from the back and are therefore effective for dentists and others who have to take most of their work in a bent forward or leaning position. Absent.

Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for an instrument that supports a person's spine while the person is bent forward or leaned forward.
There is also a need in the industry for an instrument that reduces stress acting on the lower, middle, and upper back while a person is bent forward, that is, leans forward.

  In addition, the industry demands equipment that extends the productive life of people who have to repeat forward or lean forward or take a long time as part of their work or daily activities. .

  The present invention has a forward bending support having a support structure and a rest supported from the base by the support structure. The rest is configured to support the user's torso from the base when the user leans the front side of the torso against the rest. The support can be provided with a moving structure as an interface (border) between the support structure and the base, so that the support structure can be moved back and forth along the base, i. It can be moved transversely to the longitudinal direction, so that the rest can be moved to the left and / or right along the base with respect to the user. The support may be provided as an assembly with, for example, one or more pivot structures between the base and the support structure, between the base and the moving structure, within the support structure, between the support structure and the rest, or within the rest. Can do. Such a pivot structure generally rotates about a pivot axis that extends transversely to the longitudinal direction in which the user's torso rests against the rest, and thereby the top surface of the rest relative to the horizontal plane (the top surface). In the face, the angle of the rest can receive the user's torso). The support of the present invention can be used on a patient sitting in a dental chair, on a desk, on a drawing board or drawing table, on an automobile engine compartment, in a production line or assembly line or in a production site or other environment. This is effective in any situation where the user takes a posture bent forward for a long time, that is, a leaning posture on the work area or the like.

  In a first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention contemplates a support device configured to support a user's torso from a base. The support includes a moving structure configured to be coupled to the base, a supporting structure operatively coupled to the moving structure and extending away from the moving structure, and a user supporting the torso There can be provided a rest that can rest as much as possible, the rest being operatively connected to the support structure. The support structure and the moving structure cooperate and (i) the support structure can move along the moving structure and the base, and (ii) the support structure does not move at all with respect to the base. It is configured to be temporarily fixed in place and to be later released from said fixation to move the support structure again along the moving structure.

  In some embodiments, the moving structure is in one of the group consisting of a dental chair, a base adjacent to the dental chair, a desk, a base on or adjacent to the manufacturing line, or other workstation. It is configured so that it can be operably connected to the device.

  In certain embodiments, the present invention comprises a support assembly comprising such a support, the support assembly further comprising a base to which a moving structure is operably coupled, the base including an optional However, a production facility workstation can be provided.

  In certain embodiments, the support further comprises a pivot structure that operatively engages and / or in at least one of the rest, support structure, and moving structure, and optionally It can be made pivotable relative to the support structure.

  In some embodiments, the pivot structure further comprises an extension structure operable with at least one of a moving structure, a support structure, and a rest, extending the rest away from the base and / or retracting toward the base. Can be made.

  In some embodiments, the moving structure comprises a track having a fixed length, and the support structure is operably movable along the length of the track, optionally, but at least one of the track and the support structure Is configured to temporarily lock the support structure so that the support structure does not move along the length of the track.

  In a second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention contemplates a support device configured to be able to support a user's leaning body from a base. The support device is configured to be movably connected to the base so that the support device can move in a direction along the linear path, and is operatively connected to the moving structure and away from the moving structure. A support structure extending in the direction and a rest having a front surface and a rear surface. An imaginary line between the front and back of the rest extends across the linear path. The rest is configured so that a user can approach the rest from the front, lean the trunk on the rest, and support the trunk so as to cross the linear path in the front-rear direction.

In certain embodiments, the rest pivots relative to the support structure about a pivot axis extending in a direction parallel to at least a portion of the linear path traversed by the moving structure.
In a third aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention contemplates a support device configured to support a user's torso from a base. The support includes a moving structure configured to be coupled to the base, a supporting structure operatively coupled to the moving structure and extending away from the moving structure, and a user supporting the torso. A rest that can be leaned as much as possible. The rest is pivotally coupled to the support structure by a pivot structure and can be pivoted relative to the support structure.

  In some embodiments, the rest includes a front surface and a rear surface so that the user can approach the rest from the front surface and lean the user's trunk on the rest across the pivot axis of the pivot structure. It is configured.

  In a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention contemplates a professional workstation configured to allow an operator to produce a workpiece. The professional workstation of the present invention comprises a substrate for supporting an object to be processed and a support assembly disposed substantially fixedly relative to the substrate, the support assembly comprising: (i) a base (Ii) a support structure operably connected to the base and extending away from the base; and (iii) a user supports the torso while processing the object in relation to the substrate. A rest that can lean against the support structure, the rest being operatively connected to the support structure.

In some embodiments, the professional workstation further comprises a moving structure coupled to the base, the moving structure serving as an interface between the base and the support structure, with a rest relative to the base and the substrate. Allow movement.
In some embodiments, the professional workstation further includes a pivot structure that operatively engages in at least one of the rest and support structure.

  In a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention contemplates a manufacturing facility, the manufacturing facility of the present invention having at least a first and a second workstation, wherein the workstation here Manufacturing work is performed by the worker as a difficult task. The at least first and second workstations have a support assembly. The support assembly includes a base, a support structure operably connected to the base and extending away from the base, and a rest on which an operator can lean to support the torso. The rest is operably connected to the support structure.

In some embodiments, the support assembly further comprises a moving structure coupled to the base and functioning as a coupling between the base and the supporting structure, the coupling of the moving structure to the base comprising a moving structure relative to the base, Thus, it operates to allow movement of the support assembly.
In some embodiments, at least the first and second workstations are located in a generally closed building.

In some embodiments, the rest has an interface top surface that is sufficiently wide in length and width so that the user of the rest rests comfortably so that its weight is supported on the interface top surface by the torso. The support assembly has an adjustment structure that allows adjustment of the rest relative to the base with respect to at least one of the height of the rest and the angle of the interface top surface with respect to the horizontal plane.
In some embodiments, the adjustment structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.

  The application of the present invention is not limited to the details of the structure or arrangement of the components described in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The present invention can be configured in other embodiments or implemented in various other modes. It is also to be understood that the terms and expressions used herein are for purposes of explanation and illustration only and are not limiting. The same reference numbers are used for like components.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support 10 of the present invention generally includes a padded rest (base) 12, an inclined bracket 14, and an upright bracket 16. The padded rest 12 can be rotated with respect to the inclined bracket 14. This rotation is made possible by the presence of one or more axial pivot mechanisms 19 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 14 extends at an angle from the upright bracket 16 such that the rest 12 is positioned to support the dentist close to the patient. In order to achieve this, a coupler 18 is provided between the inclined bracket 14 and the upright bracket 16, and the rest 12 can be tilted in an arbitrary direction. Once the angular position of the bracket 14 relative to the upright bracket 16 is adjusted to the desired position, the coupler 18 can be used to lock the tilt bracket 14 in the desired position / angular direction.
The coupler 18 preferably has a ball swivel 20 with a screw friction lock 22, as shown in FIG. The friction lock 22 includes a retainer 23 into which the ball end of the bracket is inserted, and a screw fastener 24 that locks the bracket in a desired position / direction. Other locking devices can be envisaged instead of the screw friction lock 22 or in combination with the screw friction lock.

  Both brackets 14, 16 can be adjusted in length so that the distance of the rest 12 from the patient can be varied as required. Although the drawings show that the length of both brackets can be adjusted, the present invention also includes an embodiment in which only one of the brackets 14, 16 can be adjusted in length. In order to make this length adjustment possible, at least one of the brackets 14 and 16 includes a first bracket member 28 supporting a spring biased pin lock 35 and a second bracket member having a plurality of adjustment holes 34. 30. 7a and 7b show details of the adjustment structure. The first member 28 is received within the second member 30 and moves telescopically relative to the second member 30 in the conventional manner of a telescoping tubular element. In this case, the pin lock 35 is advanced along the length of the second member 30 in the direction of the first member 28 and the second member 30 where the pin lock is not aligned with any of the holes 34. This telescoping movement allows the overall length of each bracket to be adjusted. Once the desired length of the bracket is obtained, the first and / or second members 28, 30 are displaced in the conventional manner of relative rotation, and the pin 35 is aligned with one of the holes 34. Thereafter, the pins 35 enter the respective holes 34 of the second bracket member 30 as shown in FIG. The pin 35 has a function of locking the bracket member 28 to a desired length with respect to the bracket member 30. Thus, the overall length of the instrument can be varied by adjusting the length of one or both of the brackets 14,16.

  Although not shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b, the member 28 can be provided with a total of two spring-biased pin locks 35, one on each side of the member. Similarly, the member 30 can be provided with two rows of adjustment holes 34 spaced apart by 180 ° in the circumferential direction of the member. In such a case, the member 28 is held at the desired height by interaction of both pin locks 35 and their respective rows of adjustment holes 34. The use of two such complementary pin locks facilitates maintaining the bracket at the desired length.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end of the bracket 16 is attached to a track 37 that is located adjacent to the base of the dental chair 38. As shown in FIG. 8, a slide plate 40 that is coupled or placed along the track 37 is provided at the lower end of the bracket 16, and the slide plate 40 has a raised locking pin 41. Yes. The support 10 or rest 12 can be moved along the base of the chair 38 by coupling the bracket 16 along the length of the track 37 and corresponding sliding.

  In order to lock the bracket 16 to a desired position along the track 37, a foot control type lock 42 is provided. The lock 42 includes a spring biased locking bar 43 and a pivot mount 40. The locking bar 43 has a series of locking holes 44 and a foot plate 45 extending from the g locking bar 43. When the bracket 16 is in the locked position on the track 37, the locking bar 43 is located on the slide plate 40, and the locking pins 44 are engaged with the respective raised locking pins 41 of the slide plate 40. To release the bracket 16 from the locked position, the user steps down the foot plate 45 and rotates the locking bar 43 around the pivot mount 46. By this rotation, the locking hole 44 is detached from the locking pin 41. The bracket 16 can then be moved to a new position along the track 37 where each hole 44 is positioned on the pin 41 and aligned with the pin 41. To lock the bracket 16 in this new position, the user need only release the foot plate 45. The foot plate 45 is pressed so as to come into contact with the slide plate 41, and the hole 44 again engages with the pin 41 located below. Thus, the position of the support 10 can be varied laterally from side to side as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8 to suit the preferences of the dentist or specific patient.

  The padded rest 12 can be used when a professional (worker) such as a dentist or a dental hygienist leans forward on the patient when treating the patient. When the worker is bent forward or leaning forward in this way, the operator's back is supported from the front of the torso, so that he (or her) lower back, middle back and / or upper back will receive Stress is reduced compared to the same posture without such a support. Since the source of support is at the front, the operator can take any degree of forward bending and perform the required work while being supported.

  The ability to adjust the angle of the bracket 14 relative to the bracket 16 allows the padded rest 12 to be tilted to any position in a wide range of directions and rotations to suit a particular body shape or gender. The amount of pad can be changed so that the operator can change the point of contact with the rest. Based on the operator's comfort and preference, the rest can contact the operator in the abdominal region, chest region or front shoulder region.

  To use the present invention, the operator adjusts the angle of the bracket 14, the height of the bracket 14 and / or the bracket 16, and the position of the bracket 16 relative to the dental chair 38. The operator can then lean forward with respect to the rest 12 while treating the patient. Alternatively, the operator can treat the patient by leaning forward against the rest 12 while sitting on the chair. Since the worker can take a forward bending posture with respect to the rest 12, the back stress experienced by the worker during such a forward bending posture is reduced.

  9 to 11 show another embodiment 100 of the present invention for use in a dental chair. The support 100 is similar to the support 10 of FIG. 1, but the relationship of the support to the dental chair 38 is different. The support 100 is not attached to the base or floor of the dental chair 38, but is attached to the back of the dental chair. As can be seen from FIG. 11, the support 100 can be rotated from one side of the dental chair 38 to the other, providing the flexibility for the operator to treat from either side of the patient. In addition, since the support 100 can adjust the angle, height and position of the rest, further flexibility can be obtained. Alternatively, the support of the present invention can be attached at other locations on the dental chair 38, for example on the side of the dental chair 38.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the support 100 of this embodiment schematically includes a padded rest 102, a pivot mechanism 104, a first arm (or upper arm) 106, and a second arm (lower). Arm) 108 and a mounting plate 110. In this embodiment, the support 100 can be attached to a dental chair as a retrofit device. FIG. 12 shows a support 100 according to another embodiment that can be attached to a dental chair during manufacture, as will be further described below.

  Returning to FIGS. 9 to 11, the padded rest 102 can be configured substantially the same as the padded rest 12 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the padded rest 102 can be formed in a shape and size that matches a particular body shape and / or gender. The padded rest 102 is pivotally coupled to the pivot mechanism 104 via a pivot point 112 near the first end of the pivot mechanism 104. Similarly, the first end of the upper arm 106 is attached to the pivot mechanism 104 via a pivot point 114 near the second end of the pivot mechanism 104. The pivot mechanism 104 allows the padded rest 102 to be adjusted by pivoting about its pivot points 112, 114. Once the padded rest 102 has been adjusted to the desired angular position, the position of the padded rest 102 is determined by a fastener 116 located at the first pivot point 112 and a fastener 117 located at the second pivot point 114. Locked in place. Although the fasteners 116, 117 are shown as threaded screws in FIG. 9, the fasteners 116, 117 can comprise any type of screw or other coupling device. Further, the fastener 116 may be formed of the same type of fastener as the fastener 117 or may be formed of a different type of fastener. The padded rest 102 can be attached to the upper arm 106 in other ways, and these attachment methods are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

  The height of the support 100 can also be adjusted. Such height adjustment is made possible by fasteners and slot structures on both the upper arm 106 and the lower arm 108. As can be understood from FIG. 10, a first slot 118 is provided at the second end of the upper arm 106. The second end of the upper arm 106 is guided along a rail 120 provided at the first end of the lower arm 108. Once the desired height is obtained, the fasteners 122 are inserted into the holes provided in the first slot 118 and the first end of the lower arm 108 so that the upper arm 106 is moved into the lower arm. 108 to a desired height. Although FIGS. 9-11 and 13 show the fastener 122 as a threaded screw, the fastener 122 can be comprised of any type of screw or other coupling device. Other ways of attaching the upper arm 106 and the lower arm 108 to each other are possible and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

  A slot / screw structure provided at the second end of the lower arm 108 allows the support 100 to rotate from one side of the dental chair 38 to the other. In a preferred embodiment, the support 100 can be rotated in the range of 120 ° from one side of the dental chair 38 to the other, but is not limited to this range of motion.

  As is apparent from FIG. 11, in order to adjust the angular position of the support tool 100, the tightening tool 126 is loosened, the angular position of the support tool 100 is adjusted (adjusted as shown by the broken line), and the tightening tool 126 is tightened again. To do. Thus, this configuration allows the support 100 to be locked in each position so that the operator can treat on both sides of the patient. While the angular position of the support tool 100 is adjusted, the height of the support tool 100 is also adjusted by sliding the lower arm 108 along the slot 124 and tightening the fastener 126 after the desired height is obtained. it can.

  The support 100 can be attached to the dental chair 38 via the attachment plate 110. Although FIGS. 9-11 show the mounting plate 110 attached to the dental chair back 128, other mounting locations such as the side of the dental chair 38 are possible. 10 and 11 show that the mounting plate 110 is positioned substantially in the center of the backrest 128 relative to the side of the dental chair 38, the mounting plate 110 is shown in FIG. It can be placed at any position on 128.

  The mounting plate 110 can be secured to the backrest 128 of the dental chair 38 by a plurality of fasteners 130 such as screws. In FIG. 10, four screws are shown secured to the back of the dental chair 38, but the number and type of fasteners can be varied according to known techniques.

  FIG. 12 shows another third embodiment for attaching the support 100 to the dental chair 38. In this embodiment, the support 100 can be attached to the dental chair 38 during initial manufacture and is also available as a retrofit product. Thus, instead of using the mounting bracket 110, the support 100 is attached to the backrest 128 of the dental chair 38 using a rotatable base (rotating base) 132. The rotating base 132 can be manufactured integrally with the dental chair 38 or can be configured as a separate instrument that is attached to the dental chair 38 at the time of manufacture.

  FIG. 12 shows that the rotating base 132 is located substantially in the center of the backrest 128 with respect to the side of the dental chair 38, but the rotating base 132 is in any position on the backrest 128. Can also be arranged. The rotating base 132 can also be attached to other positions on the dental chair 38, such as on the side of the dental chair.

  The rotation base 132 has a rotation structure that allows the support 100 to rotate from one side of the dental chair 38 to the other side as indicated by a broken line. In a preferred embodiment, the support 100 can be rotated 120 ° from one side of the dental chair 38 to the other, but is not limited to this range of movement.

  At the same time as the angular position of the support tool 100 is adjusted, the height of the support tool 100 can be adjusted by sliding the lower arm 108 along the slot 124. In this embodiment, the fastener 134 can lock the support 100 in each position, thus providing the flexibility for the operator to treat from both sides or the back of the patient. Although the fastener 134 is shown in FIG. 12 as a threaded screw, the fastener 134 may use any type of screw or, for example, a coupling device. Other ways of locking the support 100 in place are also possible.

  1, 2, 6, 7 a, 7 b, and 8 to 12 are medical chairs for treating a patient in a chair (the chair has a protruding periphery when viewed in plan view). To be used). The embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7a, 7b, and 8 illustrate lateral adjustment of the support along a protruding peripheral portion that extends around the back of the medical chair. .

  The present invention is not limited to use with a dental chair. The support of the present invention can be beneficially used in other environments where a person spends a lot of energy in a forward bent or leaning posture. For example, a researcher who spends a lot of time in a day leaning on a bench can also benefit from the present invention. The present invention is also beneficial to other people, such as those who lean forward on a countertop, desktop or workbench all day.

  For example, FIG. 3 shows another embodiment 48 of the present invention for use with a desk, table or workbench 50. This embodiment 48 generally has a padded rest 52 and an upright bracket 54. In order to adjust the angle of the rest 52, a ball swivel (not shown) having a screw friction lock (not shown) as shown in FIG. 6 is provided between the rest 52 and the bracket 54. . The bracket 54 is also provided with the telescoping structure of FIGS. 7a and 7b so that the height of the support or rest 52 can be adjusted. In order to be able to adjust the horizontal and lateral position of the bracket 54 with respect to the desk 50, a slide 62 is provided at the lower end of the bracket 54 and a track 64 is provided on the desk 50. The slide 62 moves along the track 64 in a conventional manner. A friction lock 68 is engaged to lock the bracket 54 in a position along the track 64. As another configuration, a “C clamp” type mount 70 as shown in FIG. 4 can be provided at the lower end of the bracket 54. Such a clamp 70, together with a ball joint pivot, can attach the support directly to the edge of the desk or workbench 50.

  The present invention is also useful for various recreational, hobbies and other non-professional activities. Such activities include, but are not limited to, various activities of the senior generation who perform craftwork, creation of artworks, restoration of artworks, needlework, and reading in a leaning position. From the disclosure herein, one skilled in the art can easily design such activity support structures for professional and non-professional activities and recreation required to provide forward support from the base to the user. And could be manufactured.

  FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment 80 of the present invention for use in recreational activities such as gardening or activities involving kneeling. Such a support can be provided with a padded rest 82, an adjustable vertical bracket 84, and a foot plate 86 at the lower end of the bracket 84. As shown, a neck or shoulder strap 88 can be attached to the padded rest 82 of the support so that the user can change position without using the hand.

  A coupling 90 for changing the angle of the rest 82 with respect to the bracket 84 can be provided between the rest 82 of the support and the bracket 84. In addition, a coupling 92 can be provided between the bracket 84 and the foot plate 86. Each of these couplings can be in the form of a ball swivel with a screw friction lock, similar to that shown in FIG. The bracket 84 can be provided with a nested structure as shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b so that the height can be adjusted.

  FIG. 13 shows yet another embodiment in which the support 10 of the present invention is used in a manufacturing environment. As is apparent from FIG. 13, the first and second supports 10A and 10B are attached to the front edge of the production line. As shown, the production line 136 has an elongated workspace or base, such as a structural support frame, which includes a top surface such as a table top or conveyor belt on which the work piece 138 is disposed. . Structures other than a flat surface can be used to support the workpiece. For example, pins, hooks, chains, frames, and various other known structures can be used as the support structure for supporting the work piece.

  The support 10 is attached to the front edge of the work space at a position spaced in the length direction of the production line. Each support 10 has a rest 12 supported on a support bracket 54 from a friction lock 68. The friction lock 68 is supported by the track 64 and can slide along the track 64 when unlocked.

For example, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the bracket 54 can be height adjusted as desired using, for example, a similar hole / pin adjustment structure.
The rest 12 can be rotated by a pivot structure (not shown) between the rest 12 and the bracket 54. Such a pivot structure can generally rotate the rest around one axis that is substantially aligned with the length of the production line 136.

  The rest 12 has a front surface 140, a rear surface 142, and a top surface 144 therebetween. The pivot structure of the support 10 allows the operator to approach the support 10 from the front, lean the front side of the operator's trunk on the top surface of the rest 12, and adjust the angle of the rest with respect to the horizontal plane. Can be substantially coincident with the angle of inclination of the front side of the fuselage, so that the rest 12 is substantially aligned with the front side of the fuselage, so that maximum face-to-face contact is achieved between the face of the fuselage and the top surface of the rest. Therefore, a very comfortable distribution of the fuselage weight on the rest can be achieved.

  In some cases, the rest 12 can be dynamically rotated in real time so that when the worker adds weight onto the rest, the angle of the rest is continuously adjusted relative to the movement of the worker's body. Can be configured to In other cases, once the desired direction of rest is achieved, the rest is locked in a fixed pivoting direction.

In any case, when the worker processes the workpiece 138 on the production line, for example, the worker leans forward and puts the weight of the upper body on the rest.
As used herein, including the claims, the term “base” means any foundation that supports a rest. The base can be placed in any direction, including below the rest, above the rest, and horizontal, vertical, or any angle between horizontal and vertical. The base can have a wide variety of shapes as long as it forms the foundation that supports the rest. Thus, the base can be comprised of, for example, the floor itself, a floor-mounted bracket, a ceiling-mounted bracket, a wall-mounted bracket, and a bracket that is mounted on a structure that is mounted on the floor, ceiling or wall. The base can consist of a fairly heavy object that is stabilized, for example from the floor, ceiling or walls. An example of such a base is a heavy chair such as a dental chair, a frame that supports a workstation, and the like.

  As used herein, including the claims, the terms “manufacturing”, “manufacturing” and the like refer to physical, chemical, electrical or other transformations or assembly involving the assembly or bonding of multiple parts. It refers to a wide range of artificial transformations, including but not limited to materials. “Manufacturing” and “Manufacturing” include modification of a workpiece, assembly of multiple parts and / or secondary assembly into a next level assembly, and integration of the workpiece and / or two-dimensional assembly. Includes activities such as assembly.

  Although the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to these specific embodiments. On the contrary, the invention covers all changes, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

  Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain changes can be made to the devices and methods disclosed herein in connection with the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many changes, modifications and changes may be made and such changes are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

  In addition, the present invention includes those that are not structurally equivalent to those shown in the embodiments disclosed herein in that the claims use functional expressions in addition to the means. Does not mean to do.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a support of the present invention attached adjacent to a dental chair. It is a front view which shows the instrument shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of this invention used for a desk. It is a perspective view which shows the other attachment for embodiment of FIG. It is a partial exploded perspective view which shows another embodiment of this invention used for activities, such as gardening. FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a coupler effective for the present invention. It is an illustration perspective view which shows the nesting type structure of this invention. It is an illustration perspective view which shows the nesting type structure of this invention. It is a partial exploded perspective view which shows the coupling and locking mechanism of this invention used for a dental chair. It is a side view which shows other embodiment of this invention used for a dental chair. It is a perspective view of the instrument shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a rear view of the instrument shown in FIG. 9. It is a rear view which shows other embodiment of this invention used for a dental chair. It is a perspective view which shows the place which uses the instrument of this invention in a production line environment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Support tool 12 Padded rest 14 Inclined bracket 16 Upright bracket 28 First bracket member 30 Second bracket member 37 Track 38 Dental chair 40 Slide plate 42 Foot control type lock

Claims (115)

In the support device configured to support the user's torso from the base,
(A) a moving structure configured to be connectable to the base;
(B) a support structure operatively connected to the moving structure and extending away from the moving structure;
(C) a rest that a user can lean on to support the torso, the rest being operably connected to the support structure;
The support structure and the moving structure cooperate and (i) the support structure can move along the moving structure and the base, and (ii) the support structure does not move at all with respect to the base. A support device, wherein the support device is temporarily fixed at a predetermined position and is configured to be able to be released later from the fixing to move the support structure again along the moving structure.   The movable structure is configured to be operably coupled to one of a group consisting of a dental chair, a base adjacent to the dental chair, and a desk. The support described.   The support assembly having a support according to claim 1, further comprising a base to which the moving structure is operably coupled, the base including a workstation of a manufacturing facility.   The support of claim 1, further comprising a pivot structure in operative engagement with and / or in at least one of the rest, support structure, and moving structure.   3. The support of claim 2, further comprising a pivot structure operably engaged in at least one of the rest, support structure and moving structure.   4. The support of claim 3, further comprising a pivot structure operably engaged in at least one of the rest, support structure and moving structure.   5. A support device according to claim 4, wherein the pivot structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.   6. The support of claim 5, wherein the pivot structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.   The support assembly of claim 6, wherein the pivot structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.   An extension structure operable with at least one of the moving structure, support structure and rest, wherein the rest can be extended away from the base and / or retracted toward the base. Item 1. The support according to Item 1.   An extension structure operable with at least one of the moving structure, support structure and rest, wherein the rest can be extended away from the base and / or retracted toward the base. Item 8. The support according to Item 7.   The support according to claim 1, wherein the moving structure includes a track having a certain length, and the support structure is operatively movable along a length direction of the track.   13. At least one of the track and support structure is configured to temporarily lock the support structure so that the support structure does not move along the length of the track. The support described.   A pivot structure is further included in and / or operatively engaged with at least one of the rest, support structure and moving structure so that the rest can pivot relative to the base. Item 13. A support according to Item 12.   The support of claim 14, wherein the pivot structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure. In the support device configured to support the user's torso from the base,
(A) a moving structure configured to be movably connected to the base so as to move in a direction along the linear path;
(B) a support structure operatively connected to the moving structure and extending away from the moving structure;
(C) a rest provided with a front surface and a rear surface, the imaginary line extending between the front surface and the rear surface crosses the linear path, and the user approaches the rest from the front surface. A support device characterized in that the trunk is leaned on a rest and the trunk is supported so as to cross the linear path in the front-rear direction.   The support according to claim 16, wherein the rest pivots relative to the support structure about a pivot axis extending in a direction parallel to at least a portion of the linear path traversed by the moving structure. .   The movable structure is configured to be operatively coupled to one of a group consisting of a dental chair, a base adjacent to the dental chair, and a desk. The support described.   17. A support assembly having a support as claimed in claim 16, wherein the moving structure further comprises a base to which the moving structure is operatively connected, the base including a workstation of a manufacturing facility.   An extension structure operable with at least one of the moving structure, support structure and rest, wherein the rest can be extended away from the base and / or retracted toward the base. Item 17. The support according to Item 16.   An extension structure operable with at least one of the moving structure, support structure and rest, wherein the rest can be extended away from the base and / or retracted toward the base. Item 18. A support according to Item 17. In the support device configured to support the user's torso from the base,
(A) a moving structure configured to be connectable to the base;
(B) a support structure operatively connected to the moving structure and extending away from the moving structure;
(C) a rest that a user can lean on to support the trunk, and the rest is pivotally coupled to the support structure by a pivot structure and can be pivoted with respect to the support structure. A support tool.   The rest includes a front surface and a rear surface, and the rest is configured such that a user can approach the rest from the front surface and lean the user's trunk on the rest across the pivot axis of the pivot structure. The support according to claim 22.   23. The moving structure is configured to be operably coupled to one of a group consisting of a dental chair, a base adjacent to the dental chair, and a desk. The support described.   23. A support assembly having a support as recited in claim 22, wherein said moving structure further comprises a base to which said moving structure is operatively connected, said base including a workstation of a manufacturing facility.   23. A support device according to claim 22, wherein the pivot structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.   24. A support device according to claim 23, wherein the pivot structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.   25. The support assembly of claim 24, wherein the pivot structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.   An extension structure operable with at least one of the moving structure, support structure and rest, wherein the rest can be extended away from the base and / or retracted toward the base. Item 22. A support according to Item 22.   An extension structure operable with at least one of the moving structure, the support structure and the rest, wherein the rest can be extended away from the base and / or contracted toward the base. Item 25. A support according to Item 24.   An extension structure operable with at least one of the moving structure, support structure and rest, wherein the rest can be extended away from the base and / or retracted toward the base. Item 26. A support according to Item 25.   24. The support of claim 22, wherein the moving structure comprises a track having a fixed length, and the support structure is operatively movable along the length of the track.   33. At least one of the track and support structure is configured to temporarily lock the support structure so that the support structure does not move along the length of the track. The support described. In a professional workstation configured to produce a workpiece,
(A) a substrate for supporting an object to be processed;
(B) a support assembly disposed substantially fixedly with respect to the substrate, the support assembly comprising:
(I) a base;
(Ii) a support structure operatively connected to the base and extending away from the base;
(Iii) a rest that a user can lean on to support the torso while processing an object in relation to the substrate, the rest being operably connected to the support structure; A professional workstation characterized by   A moving structure coupled to the base, the moving structure serving as an interface between the base and the support structure, allowing the rest to move relative to the base and the substrate. 34. Professional work station.   35. The professional workstation of claim 34, further comprising a pivot structure operably engaged in at least one of the rest and support structure.   35. The moving structure is configured to be operably coupled to one of a group consisting of a dental chair, a base adjacent to the dental chair, and a desk. The listed professional workstation.   An extension structure operable with at least one of the moving structure, the support structure and the rest, wherein the rest can be extended away from the base and / or contracted toward the base. Item 34. A professional workstation. Having at least first and second workstations, in which manufacturing operations are carried out by a worker as the main work here, said at least first and second workstations having a support assembly; The support assembly comprises:
(A) a base;
(B) a support structure operably connected to the base and extending away from the base;
(C) A manufacturing facility comprising a rest on which an operator can lean to support the body, and the rest is operatively connected to the support structure.   And further comprising a moving structure coupled to the base and functioning as an interface between the base and the support structure, the coupling of the moving structure to the base to allow movement of the moving structure and thus the support assembly relative to the base. 40. The manufacturing facility of claim 39, wherein the manufacturing facility operates.   40. The manufacturing facility of claim 39, further comprising a pivot structure operably engaged in at least one of the rest and support structure.   41. The manufacturing facility of claim 40, further comprising a pivot structure operably engaged in at least one of the rest and support structure.   40. The manufacturing facility of claim 39, wherein the at least first and second workstations are located in a generally closed building.   43. The manufacturing facility of claim 42, wherein the at least first and second workstations are located in a generally closed building.   The rest has a sufficiently wide interface surface in the length and width direction, and the rest user can rest comfortably so that its weight is supported on the interface surface by the torso, 40. The manufacturing facility of claim 39, further comprising an adjustment structure that allows adjustment of the rest relative to the base with respect to at least one of the height of the rest and the angle of the interface surface relative to the horizontal plane.   42. The manufacturing facility of claim 41, wherein the pivot structure enables the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.   46. The manufacturing facility of claim 45, wherein the adjustment structure allows the rest to pivot relative to the support structure.   41. The manufacturing facility of claim 40, wherein the moving structure comprises a track having a certain length, and the support structure is operatively movable along the length of the track.   49. At least one of the track and support structure is configured to temporarily lock the support structure so that the support structure does not move along the length of the track. The manufacturing equipment described. In a support that can be used in a dental chair,
(A) a rest on which the user can lean,
(B) a first arm having first and second ends, wherein the first arm is operatively connected to the rest at a proximal portion of the first end;
(C) further comprising a second arm with third and fourth ends, the second arm being operatively connected to the first arm at a proximal portion of the third end and the fourth end The proximal part of the part is operatively connected to the dental chair,
The first and second arms can adjust the angle of the rest, adjust the height of the rest, and adjust the lateral position of the rest, all of which are for dental use where the support is used A support that is performed on a chair.   The support according to claim 50, wherein the rest includes a pad.   52. The support of claim 51, wherein the amount of pad is adjustable.   51. The support device according to claim 50, further comprising a pivot mechanism capable of adjusting a rotation angle of the rest.   54. The support of claim 53, wherein the rest is attached to the pivot mechanism via a first pivot point proximate to the first end of the pivot mechanism.   The pivot mechanism includes a first pivot mechanism, and the first arm is attached to the first pivot mechanism via a second pivot mechanism proximate to a second end of the first arm. 54. A support according to Item 53.   54. The support of claim 53, further comprising at least one locking device capable of locking the rest in a desired position relative to the chair.   51. The support of claim 50, further comprising a slot proximate to the second end of the first arm.   58. The support of claim 57, further comprising first and second guide rails proximate to a third end of the second arm.   59. The support according to claim 58, wherein the second end of the first arm is slidably connected to the second arm between the first guide rail and the second guide rail.   60. The device of claim 59, further comprising a fastener extending through the slot of the first arm and securing the first arm to the second arm, thereby maintaining a desired height of the rest relative to the chair. Support tool.   51. A support device according to claim 50, further comprising a rotating base to which the support device can be operably attached to a dental chair.   The rotating base has a rotating structure that rotates the second arm to any rotational position between the left and right sides of the dental chair, including a position that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the dental chair. 62. The support according to claim 61, wherein the support is capable of being made.   62. The support according to claim 61, further comprising a rotation structure that rotates with respect to the rotation base, and further including a lock that can lock the second arm at a desired rotation position.   62. The rotating structure of claim 61, further comprising a rotating structure that rotates relative to the rotating base, the rotating structure allowing the second arm to rotate over a total rotation angle of up to about 120 degrees. Support tool.   62. The support of claim 61, wherein the rotating base is configured to be attached to the back of a dental chair.   And a mounting plate proximate to the fourth end of the second arm, the mounting plate configured to operably mount the support to the dental chair. The support according to claim 50.   67. The chair embodying the support according to claim 66, wherein the support is attached to the chair by an attachment plate, and the attachment plate is attached to the back of the chair.   51. A support according to claim 50, wherein the fourth end of the second arm has a slot.   69. The support of claim 68, further comprising a fastener extending through the slot of the second arm.   70. The support of claim 69, wherein the fastener can lock the second arm at a desired angular position relative to the chair.   The cooperation of the slot of the second arm and the fastener in the slot allows the second arm to rotate over a total rotation angle of up to about 120 ° relative to the chair. 69. A support according to 69.   70. The support of claim 69, wherein the second arm can be maintained at a desired height of the support relative to the chair by cooperation of the slot of the second arm and the fastener within the slot. . In a support that can be used in a medical patient chair,
(A) a rest on which the user can lean,
(B) a support structure capable of supporting the rest from the base with respect to the medical patient chair, the support structure being capable of adjusting the rest,
(I) a device that allows the height of the rest to be adjusted;
(Ii) a device allowing adjustment of the rest in a direction transverse to the perimeter of the chair and thus in a direction towards or away from the medical patient chair;
(Iii) a device that enables adjustment of the rotational direction of the rest,
Accordingly, the support structure can position the rest so that the weight of the torso can be supported by leaning the user's torso against the rest during the treatment of the patient in the medical patient chair. To support.   Device for allowing lateral adjustment of the rest so that the medical patient chair has a protruding perimeter and the support structure is substantially along and near the perimeter of the medical patient chair The support according to claim 73, further comprising:   74. The support of claim 73, further comprising a locking structure that allows the rest to be locked in a desired position and / or rotational position relative to the medical patient chair.   75. The support device of claim 74, further comprising a locking structure that allows the rest to be locked in a desired position and / or rotational position relative to a medical patient chair.   74. The support of claim 73, further comprising a rotation base to which the support can be operably attached to the medical patient chair.   The medical patient chair has a protruding periphery, and the support structure further includes a rotation structure of the rotation base, and the rotation structure can lock the support structure in a desired rotation position with respect to the periphery. The support according to claim 73. In a support that can be used in a medical patient chair,
(A) a rest on which the user can lean,
(B) a support structure that can support the rest from the base with respect to the medical patient chair, the medical patient chair has a protruding periphery, and the support structure can adjust the rest, and the support structure Is
(I) a device that allows the lateral position of the rest to be adjusted so as to be substantially along the perimeter and approach the limit of the perimeter;
(Ii) a device that allows the height of the rest to be adjusted;
(Iii) a device that allows adjustment of the rest in a direction transverse to the periphery of the chair and thus in a direction toward or away from the medical patient chair;
Accordingly, the support structure can position the rest so that the weight of the torso can be supported by leaning the user's torso against the rest during the treatment of the patient in the medical patient chair. To support.   80. The support device of claim 79, further comprising a locking structure that allows the rest to be locked in a desired position and / or rotational position relative to a medical patient chair.   80. The support of claim 79, further comprising a rotating base to which the support can be operably attached to the medical patient chair.   The medical patient chair has a protruding periphery, the support structure further includes a rotating structure that rotates relative to the rotating base, and further includes a lock that can lock the support structure in a desired rotational position relative to the periphery. 80. A support according to claim 79, comprising: In a support device configured to be used in combination with a desk,
(A) a rest on which the user can lean,
(B) an upright bracket having a first end connected to the rest via a coupler and a second end operably connected to the surface of the desk, the coupler being connected to the rest of the rest with respect to the upright bracket; A support device characterized in that the angle can be adjusted.   84. The support of claim 83, wherein the coupler comprises a ball swivel and a screw lock that locks the rest at a desired rotational position relative to the upright bracket.   84. The support according to claim 83, further comprising an adjustment structure that enables height adjustment of the upright bracket.   84. The support according to claim 83, further comprising a slide member combined with the second end of the bracket and a track member used in combination with a desk.   87. The support of claim 86, wherein the slide member further comprises a lock configured to lock the bracket at a given position along the track.   84. The support of claim 83, further comprising a mount provided at the second end of the bracket, the mount configured to allow the support to be attached directly to a desk.   90. The support according to claim 88, wherein the mount is a C-clamp mount. In the support used for the dental chair,
(A) a rest on which the user can lean to relieve back stress;
(B) an inclined bracket whose first end is operably connected to the rest;
(C) an upright bracket having a first end connected to the inclined bracket and a second end operably connected to the base of the dental chair;
The bracket is capable of adjusting the angle of the rest relative to the dental chair, the height of the rest, and the position of the rest.   The support according to claim 90, wherein the rest includes a pad.   92. The support device of claim 91, wherein the amount of the pad is adjustable.   95. The support of claim 90, wherein the inclined bracket extends at an angle that is not aligned with a direction in which the upright bracket extends generally.   It further comprises a coupler between the inclined bracket and the upright bracket, the coupler being capable of arranging the inclined bracket at an angle with respect to the upright bracket, the magnitude of this angle being variable. 94. A support device as claimed in claim 93.   95. The support of claim 94, wherein the coupler includes a ball swivel and a screw lock that locks the tilt bracket in a desired angular relationship with respect to the upright bracket.   The support according to claim 90, wherein the length of the inclined bracket is adjustable with respect to the upright bracket.   The support according to claim 90, wherein the length of the upright bracket is adjustable with respect to the inclined bracket.   The support of claim 90, further comprising a track adjacent to the base of the dental chair, wherein the second end of the upright bracket is operably connected to the track.   99. The support of claim 98, wherein the second end of the upright bracket is provided with a slide plate that cooperates with the track to change the support position relative to the dental chair.   100. The support of claim 99, further comprising a foot control lock configured to lock the upright bracket at a desired position along the track.   101. The support of claim 100, wherein the foot control type lock includes a spring biased locking bar and a pivot mount.   101. The support of claim 100, wherein the locking bar and foot plate collectively have a series of holes that engage the locking pins when the upright bracket is in the locked position.   At least one of the upright bracket and the inclined bracket further includes a first bracket member and a second bracket member, and the first bracket member is combined with the second bracket member so as to be nested with the second bracket member. The support according to claim 90, wherein the support is engaged with the support.   104. The support according to claim 103, wherein the second bracket member has a plurality of holes.   The first bracket member has a spring biased pin that is configured to interact with one of the holes in the second bracket member to lock the first bracket to a desired length. 105. A support according to claim 104. In a support configured to be used on a workbench,
(A) a rest on which the user can lean,
(B) an upright bracket having a first end portion operatively connected to the rest via a coupler and extending in the first direction as a whole, the second end portion of the upright bracket having a work piece; A support device configured to be mounted on a bench, wherein the coupler can position the rest at an angle that is not aligned with the direction in which the upright bracket extends generally.   107. The support of claim 106, wherein the coupler has a ball swivel and a screw lock, and the ball swivel and screw lock can collectively lock the rest with respect to the upright bracket in a desired rotational direction. .   107. The support of claim 106, further comprising a height adjustment structure that allows a user to adjust the height of the upright bracket.   A slide member provided at the second end of the upright bracket; and a track member configured to be attached to the workbench, the track member having a predetermined length, and the slide member is a track member. The support device according to claim 106, wherein the support device is configured to be slidable along the length direction.   110. The support of claim 109, wherein the slide member further comprises a locking structure that allows a user to lock the bracket in a selected position along the length of the track member.   107. The support according to claim 106, further comprising a mounting structure that is combined with the second end of the bracket to directly attach the support to the workbench.   The support according to claim 111, wherein the mount structure is a C-clamp type structure. (A) having a rest that can support the user in a potential leaning posture, the rest comprising a body strap configured to carry the support;
(B) an upright bracket whose first end is operatively connected to the rest via a first coupler;
(C) A support device further comprising a foot plate coupled to the second end of the upright bracket via a second coupler.   114. The support of claim 113, wherein each of the first and second couplers has a ball swivel and a screw lock.   114. The support according to claim 113, further comprising an adjustment structure configured to allow height adjustment of the upright bracket.

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